Like many of you, I was sadden to hear that the amount of American troops that have died since the war in Iraq. Loosing the life of just one solider is sad enough.
Unlike many people who choose to judge history based on the hear and now, I decided to do a little research on the Vietnam war to do a comparison. The results were something that should not be ignored by anyone who wishes to have a complete perspective as it relates to casualty count.
As MSM has reported, within 2 1/2 years 2,000 American soldiers have died due to our present conflict in Iraq.
Now let’s take a look at our casualties in the Vietnam war broken down by year between 1966 and 1968:
1966
US Forces: 5,008* (KIA)/ 29, 992 (WIA)
* there were an additional 1,045 non-hostile deaths for a total of 6,053
1967
US Forces: 9,378* (KIA)/ 56,013 (WIA)
* there were an additional 1,680 non-hostile deaths for a total of 11,058
1968
US Forces: 14,594* (KIA) / 87,388 (WIA)
*there were an additional 1,919 non-hostile deaths for a total of 16,511
Source: 25thaviation.org
From site: “US casualty information was derived from the Combat Area Casualty File of 11/93, and The Adjutant General’s Center (TAGCEN) file of 1981, available from the National Archives.” (other sources along with additional data can be found on this site by clicking here)
All of us may agree/disagree with the reasons behind our involvement in this war, but there are two things that honest-minded people cannot ignore: #1. The fact that we have been able to keep the casualty count so low and #2. Iraqis no longer have to live under a totalitarian regime that took power away from the people.
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